APL 2018: Kandahar Knights vs Nangarhar Leopards Match Prediction & Betting Tips. Winless Kandahar Knights face Nangarhar Leopards in the 13th match of the Afghanistan Premier League, to be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The match is scheduled for October 13 and the live action begins at 20:00 local time.

Betting Tips

Kandahar Knights are bottom of the table after losing all four games they have played so far in the Afghanistan Premier League.

The last time the two teams met – in their opening fixture of the tournament – Ben Cutting took 5/28 as Nangarhar Leopards restricted the Knights to 139/9 on their way to a six-wicket win.

Nangarhar have only won once since then, but it was in their most recent match as Anton Devcich continued his fine batting form.

Kandahar Kings Team News & Playing 11

Kandahar Knights Team News

Kandahar Knights tweaked their batting line-up following Riki Wessels arrival as their new overseas player but, opening the batting with Karim Sadiq pushed into the middle order, he could not repeat the form he showed in his first match.

Waqar Salamkheil took 2-19 after replacing Amir Hamza in the only change between the last two defeats, and Kandahar could stick with the same side as a result – though Kevin O’Brien is waiting in the wings with fellow Irishman Paul Stirling out of form.

Kandahar Knights Key Players

Asghar Afghan’s batting has been one of very few highlights batting-wise for Kandahar, but even he fell short in the nine-run defeat to Paktia Panthers. Previously he had hit 45 from 32 balls and 52 from 32 in his last two innings.

Riki Wessels’ arrival looked positive when he smashed 46* from 23 balls on his debut – leading Kandahar to within two runs of an unlikely win – but he could not replicate that up the order. Brendon McCullum scored 18 from 22 balls last time out, and he has also not been able to showcase his best T20 form.

All remain dangerous if they can get firing, however, as does Kevin O’Brien – who could come back into the team.

The bowlers have at least had something to cheer, with Sayed Shirzad claiming seven wickets in his last two games – including 4-19 against the Paktia Panthers. Waqar Salamkheil returned to the team with 2-19 from four overs last time out, meanwhile – he has four wickets in three games so far.

Kandahar Knights Team Form

Kandahar Knights have played four games and lost them all, starting with their six-wicket loss to Nangarhar Leopards in their opening match. They posted just 139/9 in that game, before falling 13 runs short of Balkh Legends’ 165/5 in their second game – despite 45 from captain Asghar Afghan.

They were much improved against Kabul Zwanan, chasing 173/6, as Asghar hit 52 from 32 balls before Riki Wessels’ late hitting – 46 from 23 balls – led them to within just two runs of Kabul’s total.

Last time out, however, their batting let them down again in a low-scoring defeat to Paktia Panthers. Sayed Shirzad’s 4-19 from 3.2 overs counted for nothing as the Knights were all out nine runs short of Paktia’s 127 all out.

Kandahar Kings Predicted Playing 11

Nangarhar Leopards Team News & Playing 11

Nangarhar Leopards Team News

Nathan Rimmington is due to replace Andre Russell in the squad, after the West Indian was ruled out for the rest of the series after just one game and a four-ball duck. The Australian may not be able to force his way into the starting XI, however, given Johnson Charles was back in the runs last time out and the remaining overseas players have already been contributing.

Indeed, with Sandeep Lamichhane still away with Nepal, there may be no changes at all – which would mean Imran Janat retaining his place ahead of Najeeb Tarakai.

Nangarhar Leopards Key Players

Anton Devcich has been in fine form with the bat, following up his career-best 94 not out with scores of 48 and 77 – the latter from 46 balls – in his two innings since. The big-hitting New Zealander was ably supported by Johnson Charles last time out, who find his batting rhythm for the first time with 43 and a 115-run opening partnership.

Ben Cutting has contributed with bat and ball, meanwhile, including 5-28 when they faced Kandahar Knights in the opening game. Mujeeb ur Rahman has taken five wickets in his last two matches, for 48 runs, while Zahir Khan now has six for the tournament.

Rahmat Shah was the stand-out bowler against Kabul Zwanan in their last game, however – taking 3-25 from his four overs.

Nangarhar Leopards Team Form

After beating Kandahar Knights by six wickets in their opening game, led by interim captain Ben Cutting’s 5-28, Nangarhar Leopards lost their next three in a row. Cutting took three wickets and hit 72 against Paktia Panthers but the leopards lost by 21 runs, before Anton Devcich’s unbeaten 94 at the top of the order proved to be in vain in a high-scoring defeat to Kabul Zwanan.

The Leopards were bowled out for 118 in their next game, against the Balkh Legends – despite 48 from Devcich – before roaring back to winning ways last time out. Devcich again set the tone with 77 from 46 balls, and Rahmat Shah was the pick of the bowlers as the Leopards won by 15 runs.